Students’ current perceptions and feedback on teaching and learning Pharmacology from an evolving medical school

Background: Understanding current perceptions and opinions of medical students regarding learning pharmacology may prove useful in improving the teaching of this discipline. Students’ feedback would probably reveal whether the so-called reforms are acceptable to them and their opinion for the betterment of teaching/learning Pharmacology subject. Aim: The study aimed to determine the opinion of students regarding the teaching of pharmacology, the best way of knowing and retaining the subject and application of the subject in future practice. Methods: The present cross sectional study was carried out by the Department of Pharmacology in collaboration with Medical Education Unit, MSDS Medical College, Fatehgarh among the undergraduate students currently studying the Pharmacology and who were due for appearing in final examination. A 30 item self administered questionnaire was administered to the students in the classrooms just after completion of classes. Time allocated for the completion of the questionnaire was 30 minutes. After compilation of collected data, analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 21 (IBM, Chicago, USA). Results: Data of 77 study subjects was analyzed. 77% students were in favour of inclusion of real life case studies and their treatment whereas 73% of the students showed interest in Problem Based Learning. Only one student wanted to include more number of seminars. 45% agreed that pharmacology education had given them capacity for self-directed learning whereas 25% of the students reported oppositely. 58% students were in the view of inclusion of recent advances in Pharmacology curriculum. Conclusion: In general students’ perceptions regarding learning pharmacology was observed to be positive. Its need of an hour to address students point of view to make learning the subject from a futuristic practical therapeutic point of view and simultaneously mitigating the general stigma that the study of this essential medical subject is boring.